Basic Information to Help Provide First Aid for a Knocked-Out Tooth

Posted December 7, 2016.

The American Association of Endodontists estimates that approximately five million teeth are knocked out every single year. A significant number of these incidents can be related to inadequate or inconsistent use of a quality mouth guard while participating in athletics. The force needed to sever the periodontal ligaments anchoring a tooth in the socket often results in serious oral trauma. Rendering quality first aid is essential for successful treatment and a complication-free recovery.

If you have blood and debris in your mouth, you can rinse them away and sooth the injured tissues with lukewarm saltwater. It’s best to avoid using antiseptic mouthwash as the alcohol or astringents can irritate wounded gums.

It might be possible for your dentist, Dr. Lori Hawkins, to implant the tooth back into the socket. For this to be possible, the tooth needs to have been knocked out of the socket cleanly and it needs to still be alive.

Water and milk are actually poor liquids for preserving the tooth. The simplest option to keep the tooth alive is to hold it between your cheek and gums. There is also a tooth preservation product sold in stores. To use it, you simply place the knocked-out tooth in the jar and seal it. The nourishing gel inside will keep it alive for a short time until Dr. Lori Hawkins can assess the situation.

If any part of the tooth or the root remains in the socket, the tooth itself will not be viable for implantation. In a situation like this, Dr. Lori Hawkins will usually have to extract the remnants of the tooth and suture the gums. Later, she can help you decide if you’d like to restore the tooth with a dental bridge or dental implant.

If you’ve just had a tooth knocked out in Belpre, Ohio, you should call 740-423-8416 to have it treated at Hawkins Family Dentistry.